President of the IEICE Electronics Society
Kazutoshi Kato (Kyushu University)

It is a great honor for me to serve as President of the Electronics Society of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE). I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all members who have supported the Society over the years, as well as to those who have contributed to the operation of our technical committees, journals, and international conferences. Although my abilities may be limited, I will devote my utmost efforts to the further development of the Electronics Society, and I sincerely ask for your continued support and cooperation.

I have been engaged in semiconductor device research for nearly forty years. During this period, I witnessed firsthand, as a researcher, the rise of Japan’s semiconductor industry to global leadership, the difficult years following the collapse of the telecommunications bubble, and the recent resurgence of the industry. Throughout these changing times, what consistently supported me were interactions with researchers and participation in academic societies. Discussions at technical meetings and encounters at conferences not only inspired new research directions but also led to numerous collaborative projects and professional networks. Looking back, it is no exaggeration to say that my research career has developed alongside academic society activities.

In my early years, I devoted myself to research with the aspiration of contributing to society through the organization to which I belonged. After joining academia, I became equally committed to student education. Students pursue research with the goal of presenting their work at technical meetings and conferences, where they receive valuable stimulation and opportunities for growth. They conduct research, present their findings, gain new ideas through discussion, and use those insights to advance their next projects. Through this positive cycle, I have witnessed many students develop into outstanding researchers and engineers. Today, many of my former students are active in universities, research institutes, and industry, contributing to the advancement of our field. I strongly believe that academic societies are not only venues for disseminating research results but also essential environments for nurturing future generations.

In recent years, information processing technologies, particularly generative AI, have advanced dramatically, accelerating digital transformation throughout society. However, society cannot be sustained by AI and information technologies alone. Information societies rely fundamentally on sensing technologies that acquire information from the physical world, communication technologies that transmit such information rapidly and efficiently, and hardware technologies—including semiconductors, photonic devices, high-frequency technologies, and packaging technologies—that support them. Indeed, the more AI advances, the more important the underlying hardware becomes.

The Electronics Society is a community where researchers and engineers working on these hardware technologies come together. It encompasses a wide range of fields, including semiconductor materials, electronic and photonic devices, integrated circuits, microwave and millimeter-wave technologies, packaging technologies, and measurement technologies. Many of these areas represent fields in which Japan maintains strong international competitiveness. As these technologies form the foundation of future information and communication societies, I believe that the role of the Electronics Society will become increasingly important.

Last year, as Vice President of the Society, I had the opportunity to participate in the activities of the International Affairs Committee. Through this experience, I learned once again how many dedicated individuals are working to promote the internationalization of our Society. At the same time, I became aware of important challenges. While research activities are becoming increasingly internationalized, the number of overseas members has been declining, raising questions about how we can strengthen the global presence of our Society. Nevertheless, I also gained many valuable insights from these activities, and I hope to translate them into concrete initiatives in the coming years.

As part of its internationalization strategy, IEICE encourages each Society to establish a flagship international conference. In this regard, however, the Electronics Society has long been proactive in international conference activities. We already host conferences that enjoy high international recognition, placing us among the most advanced societies within IEICE.

Moreover, the strength of the Electronics Society extends beyond large-scale international conferences. Internationalization efforts have steadily progressed at the technical committee level as well. Last year, the MWPTHz Technical Committee and the PICS Technical Committee held workshops in Taiwan. In addition, the Photonics Device Workshop (PDW), organized annually by the LQE, OPE, and PICS Technical Committees, has become an internationally recognized workshop that attracts distinguished researchers from around the world despite being held in Japan. These activities not only provide opportunities for interaction with overseas researchers but also offer valuable international experiences for young researchers and students. Building upon these achievements, I hope to further support international exchanges at the technical committee level.

Internationalization does not simply mean going abroad. It is equally important to invite overseas researchers and students to Japan and encourage their participation in our workshops and conferences. While it is often difficult for a single university or company to provide sufficient international opportunities on its own, academic societies can create such opportunities for a much broader community. The Electronics Society should continue to play an active role in providing these opportunities.

This year, a new system was introduced under which a portion of the revenue from Type-II Technical Meetings is allocated to the IEICE headquarters as common expenses. A similar system is expected to be applied to international conferences beginning next year. Because the Electronics Society actively organizes numerous conferences and workshops, these changes may significantly affect our operations. Nevertheless, for the sustainable development of IEICE as a whole, it is important for the Societies and headquarters to work together in seeking the most appropriate framework. I hope to continue constructive dialogue so that the system will benefit the headquarters, the Societies, and conference organizers alike.

More fundamentally, the decline in membership is the root cause of many challenges facing academic societies today. Institutional reforms and cost reductions alone cannot provide a fundamental solution. The most important task is to enhance the value of the Society and attract more members. To achieve this, it is essential to improve member services through technical meetings, journals, and international conferences. While many dedicated individuals have already invested tremendous effort toward these goals, the Electronics Society should continue reviewing its activities from the perspective of cost-effectiveness and make the most effective use of its limited human and financial resources.

Another critical mission is the development of young researchers and students who will lead the next generation. The technical committees of the Electronics Society have long organized activities centered on students and young researchers. Academic societies and technical meetings are not only places to present research results but also environments where researchers grow professionally. Encounters with new ideas, interactions with researchers from different fields, and opportunities to build future collaborations are invaluable experiences. Just as I was nurtured through academic society activities, I hope to contribute to creating an environment where young researchers and students can continue to grow. In collaboration with our internationalization initiatives, we will strive to provide opportunities that broaden their perspectives and help them succeed on the global stage.

Hardware technologies represent one of Japan’s longstanding strengths and will remain essential for contributing to the international community. The Electronics Society plays a central role in advancing these technologies. In an increasingly globalized world, our goal should not merely be to follow international trends but to demonstrate leadership, helping to shape the global research community through technologies and human resources originating from Japan.

The Electronics Society connects diverse disciplines, connects people, and connects Japan with the world. To pass on and further develop these valuable activities for future generations, the cooperation of all members is indispensable. I look forward to working together with you to build an even more attractive and vibrant Society. I sincerely appreciate your continued support and cooperation.